Mahovlich made his NHL debut Dec. 28, 1965, earning an assist in a game at Boston. He struggled to be a consistent threat offensively, and spent time with the Wings and in the minor leagues. During the 1967-68 season, Frank Mahovlich, already a four-time Stanley Cup champion with the Leafs, joined the Wings. Frank starred on a line with Gordie Howe and Alex Delvecchio, scoring a team-high and career-best 49 goals in 1968-69.
An interesting look back at how different the league and ascension process to the league were back when the draft was instituted. Some things never stay the same, such as a guy the Wings pick going on to do better with a different organization.